Obstetrics & Prenatal Care

Making Prenatal Care a Priority

Adena Health System gives moms-to-be the best care

More than 139,000 babies are born in Ohio each year, but not all of them are getting off to the best start. According to the National Center for Health Statistics, nearly 30 percent of pregnant women in the state aren’t getting the prenatal care they need during their first trimester.

Mothers who don’t get the appropriate care during these crucial first months are three times more likely to have a low-birth-weight baby, and the mortality rate for their infants is five times higher than those who received prenatal care.

“During the first few months of pregnancy, all of your baby’s organs are developing,” says Lee Parks, DO at Adena Health System. “Your obstetrician can provide the expertise and guidance you need to help give your baby a healthy start in life.”

Early prenatal care at Adena Health System includes important screenings for RH compatibility, rubella (German measles), syphilis, hepatitis, and HIV, all of which can put your baby at risk. In addition, your obstetrician will help you manage chronic conditions, such as diabetes, asthma, epilepsy, or high blood pressure, as well as identify any health or lifestyle issues that might be endangering your baby or even risking miscarriage.

Your physician also can help advise and monitor your use of medications, vitamins and herbs during your pregnancy. Some prescription and over-the-counter drugs as well as herbal supplements are dangerous to your baby. Your doctor also will prescribe prenatal vitamins containing folic acid, which are important to take early in your pregnancy to lower your risk of some birth defects.